CN115003875B - Detergent container for a cleaning device, contact apparatus, method and apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and cleaning device - Google Patents

Detergent container for a cleaning device, contact apparatus, method and apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and cleaning device Download PDF

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Publication number
CN115003875B
CN115003875B CN202180011687.7A CN202180011687A CN115003875B CN 115003875 B CN115003875 B CN 115003875B CN 202180011687 A CN202180011687 A CN 202180011687A CN 115003875 B CN115003875 B CN 115003875B
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CN
China
Prior art keywords
contact
detergent container
electrodes
cleaning device
contact area
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
CN202180011687.7A
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Chinese (zh)
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CN115003875A (en
Inventor
阿克塞尔·埃克特迈耶
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Miele und Cie KG
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Miele und Cie KG
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Publication of CN115003875A publication Critical patent/CN115003875A/en
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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F39/00Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/02Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2103/00Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2103/20Washing liquid condition, e.g. turbidity
    • D06F2103/22Content of detergent or additives
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/42Detergent or additive supply
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F2105/00Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
    • D06F2105/58Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F33/00Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
    • D06F33/30Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
    • D06F33/47Responding to irregular working conditions, e.g. malfunctioning of pumps 

Abstract

A detergent container for a cleaning device, a contact apparatus, a method for operating a cleaning device and an apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and a cleaning device. The invention relates to a detergent container for a cleaning device (100), the cleaning device (100) having a receiving shaft and a contact means (106) for the detergent container (200). The detergent container has a housing for storing detergent, wherein the housing is formed to be inserted into a receiving shaft of the cleaning device (100). Furthermore, the detergent container has an electrically conductive contact area which is arranged on the outside of the housing and which represents a content code representing the content of the detergent container. In the inserted state of the housing, the contact device (106) can be used to contact the contact area (204) to detect the content code.

Description

Detergent container for a cleaning device, contact apparatus, method and apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and cleaning device
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a detergent container for a cleaning device, a contact apparatus, a method for operating a cleaning device and an apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and a cleaning device.
Background
In the case of a washing machine loaded with one or more cartridges, for example, in order to supply different chemicals to the washing process in the correct dosage, a correct cartridge loading is required.
Disclosure of Invention
The problem addressed by the method presented herein is to create an improved detergent container for a cleaning device, an improved contact apparatus, an improved method for operating a cleaning device and an improved apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and an improved cleaning device.
According to the invention, this problem is solved by a detergent container for a cleaning device, a contact device, a method for operating a cleaning device and an apparatus for operating a cleaning device, as well as a cleaning device having the technical features within the main scope of the claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can be found in the scope of the following claims.
The advantages that can be achieved by the invention include, in addition to reducing the risk of confusion with the cartridge to be used, an increase in ease of use for the user. Furthermore, a particularly cost-effective option is provided for achieving the advantages described in comparison with existing cleaning devices.
Against this background, a detergent container for a cleaning device is provided, which has a receiving shaft and a contact means for the detergent container. The detergent container has a housing and a contact area. The housing is designed for storing a detergent and can be inserted into a receiving shaft of the cleaning device. The contact area is arranged on the outside of the housing and is electrically conductive. The contact area represents a content encoding (content encoding) representing the content of the detergent container. In the inserted state of the housing, the contact area can be contacted with a contact device to detect the content code.
For example, the detergent container may be formed as a cartridge filled with, for example, a cleaning agent, which can be inserted into the cleaning device. For example, the detergent container may be replaceable so that it can be replaced with a new detergent container after it has been emptied. For example, the cleaning device may be implemented as an automatic washing machine, which may be in the form of a household appliance. For example, the contact region may have an at least partial metal surface. For example, the content code may be used to distinguish which detergent is contained in the detergent container. Thus, the content codes of the detergent containers storing different detergents may be different.
According to an embodiment, the location of the contact area on the housing may represent the content code. This means: the cleaning agent may be detected based on the location of the contact area. It is thus possible to select different positions for the respective contact areas arranged on the respective housing for different cleaning agents. In this case, the corresponding position may be selected from a plurality of predetermined possible positions. If the contact area is located at a position corresponding to the position of the contact means, it can be easily detected whether the correct detergent container is inserted by arranging the contact means of the cleaning device to contact only the contact area of the inserted detergent container.
The contact region may have a plurality of contact portions representing the content code. Thus, if the contact areas of different detergent containers are each arranged at the same location of the detergent container, they may also have different content codes. If the position of the contact area also changes, the number of possible content encodings increases. This therefore advantageously avoids loading errors, even if a large number of different detergent containers are available.
According to an embodiment, a first contact portion from the plurality of contact portions may be formed electrically conductive and a second contact portion from the plurality of contact portions may be formed electrically insulating. Thus, a pattern of the electrically conductive portions and the electrically insulating portions can be formed, by which the content code can be formed.
The contact area may be formed as a label that is glued to the housing. Thus, production costs can be advantageously saved.
Furthermore, in the above-described variant, a contact device for contacting a contact area of at least one detergent container is provided, wherein the contact device has two electrodes and a detection means. Two electrodes are designed to contact the contact area. The detection means are designed for detecting the content code of the detergent container by means of an electrical circuit wired via two electrodes.
For example, the contact device may be used in a cleaning apparatus to detect detergent containers. If the detergent container is properly inserted into the cleaning device, the electrode contacts the contact area. The detection means may be designed to provide the voltage required to implement the circuit. Furthermore, the detection means may comprise suitable sensor means for detecting a closed circuit. The detection means may be implemented as a control unit or integrated into a control unit for controlling the operation of the cleaning device. Thus, the program of the cleaning device may advantageously be set on the basis of the detected content code.
According to an embodiment, the contact device may have a contact arm, which may have an electrode and two conductive paths for connecting the electrode to the detection means. For example, since the contact arms are designed to be resilient, a reliable contact of the contact areas can be achieved by the contact arms. Furthermore, by using contact arms, it is also possible to contact a contact area, which is arranged for example on the upper side of the housing of the detergent container.
The contact device may also have a third electrode. In this case, the detection device is designed to be able to detect the content code of the detergent container by means of a circuit wired via the third electrode, wherein the first electrode, the second electrode and the third electrode can be arranged in a row or offset from one another. Advantageously, the electrodes may be arranged adjacent to each other, for example, parallel to each other. The number of possible content encodings can be increased by the third electrode.
According to an embodiment, the contact device may have two further electrodes for contacting a further contact area of a further detergent container. In this case, the detection means may be designed to be able to detect the content code of another detergent container by means of another circuit wired via the other two electrodes. Thus, for example, it can be advantageous to use and detect two detergent containers with different contents in a cleaning device.
According to an embodiment, if the contact area is located in the first position of the detergent container, the two electrodes may be arranged to contact the contact area of the detergent container inserted into the cleaning device receiving area. Accordingly, if the further contact area is located at a further position of the further detergent container, the two electrodes may be arranged to contact the further contact area of the further detergent container inserted into the further receiving area of the cleaning device. The first position and the further position may be different from each other. In this way, detergent containers having contact areas located at different positions can be distinguished from each other and detected.
Furthermore, in a variant of the above-described use of a detergent container as described above, a method for operating a cleaning device with a contact apparatus is provided. To this end, the method comprises: a step of checking whether a circuit wired via the two electrodes is closed to obtain a test result; a step of providing an error loading signal using the test result if the test result does not indicate a closed circuit; and a step of using the test result to provide a content signal indicative of the content of the detergent container if the test result indicates a closed circuit.
For example, the method may be performed in a cleaning apparatus comprising a contacting device. For example, the method may selectively output a message to the user using the error load signal. This means: for example, a wrong insertion of the detergent container into the contact device, the user is advantageously notified. In this way, the safety of the user's operation can be advantageously increased, and thus automatic program selection can also be achieved.
Furthermore, a device is provided which is designed to perform the steps of the method in the variant described above.
The device may be designed to read an input signal and to use the input signal to determine and provide an output signal. For example, the input signal may represent a sensor signal readable through an input interface of the device. The output signal may represent a control signal or a data signal that may be provided at the device output interface. The device may be designed to determine the output signal using a processing specification implemented in hardware or software. For example, the device may comprise logic circuits, integrated circuits or software modules for this purpose, and may be implemented as discrete components or be constituted by discrete components.
A computer program product with a program code or a computer program storable on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium (e.g. a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory) is also advantageous. If the program product or program is executed on a computer or device, the program product or program may be used to perform, implement and/or control the steps of a method according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments.
Furthermore, a cleaning device is provided which has one of the variants described above and a contact device in a device as described above.
For example, the cleaning device may be in the form of a household appliance. Alternatively, the methods described herein may be associated with commercial or professional equipment, for example medical equipment such as cleaning or sanitizing devices, mini-sterilizers, high volume sterilizers or container washing systems, respectively.
The method presented herein also creates an apparatus designed to perform, control or carry out the steps of the variant of the method presented herein in a corresponding device. The problem addressed by the present invention can also be solved quickly and effectively in the form of a device by this embodiment variant of the present invention.
Drawings
Embodiments of the invention are shown in a purely schematic form in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cleaning device according to an embodiment;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a detergent container according to an embodiment;
FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of a contact area according to an embodiment;
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a contact area according to an embodiment;
FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of a contact area according to an embodiment;
FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic view of a contact area according to an embodiment;
FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic view of a contact area according to an embodiment;
FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of a contact area according to an embodiment;
FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a contact apparatus according to an embodiment; and
fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a flow chart of a method for operating a cleaning device with a contact apparatus.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cleaning device 100 according to an embodiment. For example, the cleaning device 100 is implemented as a washing machine designed for cleaning items to be cleaned located in the washing drum 102.
According to an embodiment, the cleaning device 100 comprises means 104 for operating the cleaning device 100. For example, the apparatus 104 is designed for controlling a method for operating the cleaning device 100 as will be explained in more detail in one of the following figures. In particular, the device 104 is designed for identifying a detergent container in the receiving shaft 105 of the cleaning apparatus 100. For example, a detergent container (also referred to as a cartridge) may be inserted into the receiving shaft 105 by a user of the cleaning device 100 and store detergent. A contact device 106 is arranged in the region of the receiving shaft 105, which contact device allows electrical contact of the contact region of the detergent container. The contact device 106 makes it possible to detect and identify the detergent container accommodated in the receiving shaft. This is advantageous if the user has a plurality of detergent containers with different available contents, which may be inserted into the receiving shaft 105, for example, due to the same external shape. This therefore ensures that the plurality of scrubber vessels are not interchanged.
According to an embodiment, the device 104 comprises a test unit 108 and a supply unit 110. The test unit is designed to check: whether or not the circuit wired via the contact device 106 and the contact area of the detergent container accommodated by the receiving shaft 105 is closed, to obtain a test result 112. According to an embodiment, the supply unit 110 is designed for using the test result 112 to provide the error load signal 114 in case the test result 112 does not indicate a closed circuit. For example, the error load signal 114 may be adapted to indicate to a user using the display device: the wrong detergent container is located in the receiving shaft 105. According to an embodiment, the supply unit 110 is additionally or alternatively designed for providing the content signal 116 using the test result 112. In this case, if the test result 112 indicates a closed circuit, the content signal 116 indicates the content of the detergent container. For example, because the correct detergent container is detected, the content signal 116 may be used to initiate a selected cleaning procedure. The content signal 116 may also be used to select and initiate a cleaning procedure that matches the detected content of the detergent container.
Additionally or alternatively, the device 104 may comprise detection means, as described with reference to fig. 2. The device 104 may also be designed in the form of such a detection means. According to an embodiment, the contact device 106 is thus part of the device 104.
Regardless of the exact design of the device 104, an option for detecting a detergent container in the cleaning apparatus 100 is created. According to an embodiment, this is achieved by using a detergent container with a housing having an axis of symmetry, wherein the conductive means for forming the contact area are arranged outside the axis of symmetry. This ensures that different types of detergent containers are not interchanged. To this end, according to an embodiment, the device 104 is designed as a machine-side detection means comprising at least two electrodes suitably arranged outside the symmetry axis of the detergent container inserted into the receiving shaft 105, in order to be able to distinguish between different types of detergent containers in the same receiving shaft 105.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a detergent container 200, 212 according to an embodiment.
For example, the detergent container 200 may be used in a cleaning apparatus having the contact device 106, as described with reference to fig. 1. For example, the detergent container 200 is formed as a cartridge. In this case, the detergent container 200 has a housing 202, the housing 202 being formed for storing a detergent as required for a washing process for a cleaning device. For this purpose, the known cartridge housing can be used. The housing 202 may be inserted into a receiving shaft of the cleaning device.
The detergent container 200 has an electrically conductive contact area 204, which contact area 204 is arranged outside the housing 202 and represents a code for detecting and identifying the content of the detergent container 200. Thus, the content code represents the detergent container contents of the detergent container 200. In the inserted state of the detergent container 200, the contact area 204 may be contacted using an electrode arrangement of two electrodes 206 of the contact device 106 as in this case to detect the content code.
For example, the contact area 204 is formed as a label glued to the housing 202. Alternatively, the contact area 204 may be printed or otherwise fabricated.
According to the present embodiment, the contact areas 204, 214 are realized as continuously conductive surfaces. In this case, the contact regions 204, 214 may be formed as circular or rectangular, for example.
According to the present embodiment, the location of the contact area 204 on the housing 202 represents the content code. For example, the location about the axis of symmetry of the housing 202 is located on the first half of the housing 202. In the case of other detergent containers with different contents, the respective contact areas 204 may be located in different positions, for example on the second half-shell or on the symmetry axis of the respective shell.
Thus, the outer surface of the housing 202 may be divided into multiple segments. Specific contents may be dispensed into the segments. For example, different detergent types may thus be assigned to different segments. The contact areas 204 are located in segments assigned to the types of detergent located in the respective detergent containers 200.
The contact area 204 is designed to be electrically conductive in order to close an electrical circuit when in contact with the two electrodes 206 of the contact device 106. This is schematically illustrated in fig. 2 by the still open switch, since the detergent container 200 has not yet been fully inserted into the receiving shaft.
The contact device 106 further comprises detection means 208. The detection means 208 are designed for detecting the content code of the detergent container 200 by means of an electrical circuit wired by the two electrodes 206. When the detergent container 200 is fully inserted into the cleaning device in the insertion direction 210, the two electrodes 206 contact the contact area 204, thereby closing an electrical circuit.
If another detergent container is to be inserted, wherein the contact area 204 is located in a different position, e.g. in a different section of the housing 202, the two electrodes 206 will not contact the contact area 204 and thus the electrical circuit will not be closed by the two electrodes 206.
According to an embodiment, the section which can be arranged in the contact region is arranged on the upper side of the housing 202, close to the front edge of the housing 202 in the insertion direction 210. In this way, the contact area 204 can be easily contacted by the contact device 106.
According to this embodiment, another detergent container 212 may be inserted into the cleaning device proximate to the detergent container 202.
The further detergent container 212 has a further contact area 214. The other contact region 214 is arranged at a different position relative to the contact region 204, for example, in a different section of the housing 202. Thus, the other contact area 214 describes a different content than the detergent container 200. Thus, the detergent container 200, 212 may be distinguished from each other by their different locations of the contact areas 204, 214.
Another electrode arrangement (e.g. in case two further electrodes 216 are provided) is provided for detecting another detergent container 212. The other two electrodes 216 are positioned differently than the two electrodes 206. Two electrodes 206 may contact the contact region 204 arranged at the first location, while the other two electrodes 216 are arranged such that they may contact the contact region arranged at the second location. In this case, the first and second positions are located, for example, on different sides of the symmetry axis of the housing 202.
Since the contact area 214 of the detergent container 212 is located at the third position (e.g. in case of an axis of symmetry of the housing 202), the other two electrodes 216 cannot contact this contact area 214. At least in the portion for disposing the contact area, the outer surface of the housing 202 is formed to be electrically insulating. Thus, the other circuit, which is routed by the other two electrodes 216, is not closed. This is detected by the detection means 208. Therefore, it is detected that another detergent container 212 according to the present embodiment is erroneously inserted. However, if the position of the contact area 214 of the other detergent container 212 corresponds to the position of the other two electrodes 216, the detection means 208 will detect a properly inserted detergent container.
According to an alternative embodiment, as shown in fig. 2, the two electrodes 206 and the other two electrodes 216 are not arranged at different heights, but at the same height with respect to the respective detergent container 202, 212. In this case, there is no difference in the positions of the contact areas 204, 214 on the respective housings 202. In order to still be able to identify the different contents of the different detergent containers 200, 212, the contact areas 204, 214 are formed in different shapes. This means: content encoding is achieved by a surface as an identification feature, for example as shown in one of the following figures. For this purpose, each electrode arrangement may optionally have more than two electrodes 206, 216 as shown in fig. 2.
In other words, an option is described for identifying, for example, one or optionally a plurality of detergent containers 200, 212 which are inserted into at least one receiving area designed for this purpose. The detergent container 200, 212 may be optionally locked by, for example, a flange disposed at one end of the detergent container 200, 212, for example, behind a spring latch disposed on the container assembly. The detergent container 200, 212 contains, for example, different types of detergent components which are requested and pumped out differently under the correct dosage interactions by the respective desired washing program to achieve the washing effect and bleaching of the items to be cleaned. Thus, for example, it is necessary to correctly distribute to the respective compartments (components). Because of the same container, i.e., because of the similar construction of the housings 202 of the detergent container 200, 212, using different fills and labels, the methods presented herein may prevent the detergent container 200, 212 from being interchanged, such that the detergent container 200, 212 is detected in the respective compartments, and the customer is provided with a display only optionally for incorrect loading. Further, for example, by system expansion, content detection can also be performed. This can be extended in turn to automatic program setting, for example.
According to this embodiment, each detergent container 200, 212 also has a contact area 204, 214, for example in the form of an adhesive area or a small adhesive label, which has a conductive surface when assembled to match the contents and label.
By properly loading the detergent container 200, 212, the electrically conductive contact areas 204, 214 on the respective housings 202 are brought into contact with contacts, referred to herein as the two electrodes 206, 216. According to an embodiment, the electrodes 206, 216 are each arranged on the upper side of the limit switch lever. For example, in case of a misloading like exchanging the detergent container 200, 212, no electrical connection is established between the contact areas 204, 214 and the electrodes 206, 216. In other words, each of the contact areas 204, 214 thus acts as a switch with a lever force in the direction of the circuit board layout as comprising the detection device 208.
As shown with reference to the following figures, different coding options may be used to display different detergent contents in the form of different configurations of contact areas. In order to identify the respective detergent content, the contact area is divided and optionally the number of contact conductive paths is increased, thereby also optionally increasing the number of electrodes. For example, in each case three different contents in each detergent container are distinguished by three electrodes. For example, in this case, a total of six different detergents may be dispensed to two receiving shafts (also referred to as compartment 1 and compartment 2). In each case, the locations of the contact areas of the different segments on the respective housings may be the same. This distinction can be achieved by the fact that only: each segmented portion initiates the circuit by being precisely assigned to a pair of electrodes of the segmented portion's contact device.
Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a contact area 204 according to an embodiment. The contact area 204 (e.g., corresponding to a contact area similar to that described in fig. 2 or an alternative to such a contact area) may be disposed on a detergent container used or available in the cleaning device described in fig. 1. According to the present embodiment, the contact area 204 has a plurality of contact portions 300 representing the encoding of the content. According to the present embodiment, the first contact portion 302 is formed to be electrically conductive, and the second contact portion 304 is formed to be electrically insulating.
In the embodiment shown here, the contact region 204 is conductively connected to the electrodes 308, 310 of the electrode arrangement (in this case the electrode arrangement has three electrodes 306, 308, 310) via the first contact portion 302 of the contact device 106, so that an electrical circuit is closed via the electrodes 308, 310.
However, another circuit wired through the third electrode 306 is not closed, and thus the third electrode 306 contacts the electrically insulated second contact portion 304.
According to the present embodiment, the first electrode 308 and the second electrode 310 make it possible to close a circuit through the first contact portion 302. According to the present embodiment, no current flows through the third electrode 306 because it is arranged at the level (level) of the insulating region, i.e., the level (level) of the second contact portion 304. The electrodes 308, 310 make it possible to close an electrical circuit, which means that the content of the detergent container can thus be identified. Since the content encoding according to the present embodiment is achieved by the conductivity of the contact portion 300 instead of the position, the contact region 204 of the detergent container and another contact region of another detergent container, for example, can be respectively arranged at the same position according to the present embodiment.
In other words, the contact device 106 according to the present embodiment has a greater number of electrodes 308, 310, 306 when compared to the two electrodes described with reference to fig. 2. Thus, by coordination of the layout adaptation on the detection device (also referred to as an electronic product) with the contact areas 204 on each detergent container, a content code is created.
For example, the contact portions 302, 304 according to the illustrated embodiment are arranged in a bar-like manner adjacent to each other. In this case, the first contact portion 302 has a larger width than the second contact portion 304. The first contact portion 302 occupies two-thirds of the width of the contact region 204 and the second contact portion 304 occupies one-third of the width of the contact region 204. The separation line between the contact portions 302, 304 is parallel to an axis of symmetry, for example as mentioned with reference to fig. 2. For example, the contact region 204 has a circular shape.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a contact region 404 according to an embodiment. The contact area 404 shown here corresponds to the contact area described with reference to fig. 3, but in this case the contact portions 302, 304 are arranged interchangeably. This allows the electrical circuit via the second electrode 310 and the third electrode 306 to be closed. Because the first electrode 308 contacts the electrically insulated second contact portion, current cannot flow through the first electrode 308.
Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a contact area 504 according to an embodiment. The contact region 504 shown here also has a first contact portion 302 that is electrically conductive and a second contact portion 304 that is electrically insulating. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the first contact portion 302 extends only over half the length of the contact area 504 (e.g. based on the aforementioned symmetry axis) parallel to the insertion direction of the detergent container shown in fig. 2. The first contact portion 302 extends beyond half of the contact area 504 (proximate to the contact device 106).
The segmented portions allow to increase the number of possible combinations for arranging the contact portions 302, 304. For this purpose, however, the contact device 106 needs to arrange further electrodes 506, 508, 510 in the second row in addition to the electrodes 306, 308, 310 arranged in the first row. The two rows of electrodes are arranged in parallel.
According to the present embodiment, the first contact portion 302 closes the circuit exclusively via the electrode 308, 310.
According to an embodiment, the number of electrodes is increased to at least four, which are for example located on the upper and lower side of the contact device 106 in the operational state, when compared to the embodiment described with reference to fig. 2.
Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a contact region 604 according to an embodiment. The contact areas 604 shown here differ from the contact areas described in fig. 5 in the arrangement of the contact portions 302, 304. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the first contact portion 302 extends only over half the length of the contact region 604. The first contact portion 302 extends beyond half of the contact area 604 (proximate to the contact device 106).
According to the present embodiment, the first contact portion 302 closes the circuit exclusively via the electrode 306, 310.
Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a contact area 704 according to an embodiment. The contact areas 704 shown here differ from the contact areas described in fig. 5 in the arrangement of the contact portions 302, 304. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 3, the first contact portion 302 extends only over half the length of the contact area 704 (e.g. based on the aforementioned symmetry axis) parallel to the insertion direction of the detergent container shown in fig. 2. The first contact portion 302 extends beyond half of the contact area 704 (away from the contact device 106).
According to the present embodiment, the first contact portion 302 closes the circuit exclusively via the electrodes 508, 510.
Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a contact region 804 according to an embodiment. The contact areas 804 shown here differ from the contact areas described in fig. 7 in the arrangement of the contact portions 302, 304. In contrast to the embodiment shown in fig. 4, the first contact portion 302 extends only over half the length of the contact region 804. The first contact portion 302 extends to half of the contact area 804 (proximate to the contact device 106).
According to the present embodiment, the first contact portion 302 closes the circuit exclusively via the electrode 506, the electrode 510.
Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a contact device 106 according to an embodiment. The contact device 106 may correspond or be similar to the contact device 106 described in fig. 1 or fig. 2. The contact device 106 forms a contact area for contacting at least one detergent container. For this purpose, the contact device 106 has two electrodes 206 and a detection means 208, which detection means 208 is designed to detect the content code of the detergent container by means of an electrical circuit wired by the two electrodes 206. According to the present embodiment, the contact device 106 has a contact arm 900, which contact arm 900 has an electrode 206 and two conductive paths 902 for connecting the electrode 206 to the detection means 208.
In other words, according to the present embodiment, the contact arm 900, also called limit switch lever, comprises at least two conductive paths 902 for performing the function of a contact switch in the direction of the detection means 208.
The detergent container has a contact area on the connection side. The contact area has an electrically conductive surface and optionally a very good adhesive strength. In this case, lever arm 900 has an integrated conductive path 902. These conductive paths 902 are shorted at the pressure driven side by the conductive contact areas when the detergent container is loaded. According to an embodiment, for example, on the other lever side of the contact arm 900, an electrical connection with the detection device 208 can thus be established by the contact pressure of the loaded detergent container. The short circuit (i.e. the closed circuit) only occurs in case of a correct loading of the detergent container cartridge.
According to alternative embodiments, the contact arm 900 comprises other conductive paths and other electrodes, for example in order to be able to evaluate the formation of the contact areas described with reference to fig. 3 to 8.
Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a flow chart of a method 1000 for operating a cleaning apparatus having a contact device. As shown in fig. 1, the method 1000 may be performed in a cleaning device. As shown in fig. 2, the method 1000 includes: step 1002, checking whether a circuit wired by two electrodes is closed to obtain a test result; step 1004, if the test result does not indicate a closed circuit, providing an error loading signal using the test result; at step 1006, if the test result indicates a closed circuit, the test result is used to provide a content signal, wherein the content signal is indicative of the detergent container content.

Claims (15)

1. A detergent container (200) for a cleaning device (100), the cleaning device (100) having a receiving shaft and a contact means (106) for the detergent container (200), wherein the detergent container (200) has the following features:
-a housing (202) for storing a detergent, wherein the housing (202) is formed to be inserted into the receiving shaft of the cleaning device (100); and
-an electrically conductive contact area (204), the electrically conductive contact area (204) being arranged outside the housing (202), wherein the contact area (204) represents a content code representing the content of a detergent container, wherein in an inserted state of the housing (202) the contact area (204) can be contacted using the contact device (106) for detecting the content code;
wherein the location of the contact area (204) on the housing (202) represents the content code; the contact region (204) has a continuously conductive surface.
2. The detergent container (200) of claim 1, wherein said contact area (204) has a plurality of contact portions (300) representing said content code.
3. The detergent container (200) according to claim 2, wherein a first contact portion (302) from the plurality of contact portions (300) is formed to be electrically conductive and a second contact portion (304) from the plurality of contact portions (300) is formed to be electrically insulating.
4. A detergent container (200) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the contact area (204) is formed as a label which can be glued or has been glued to the housing (202).
5. A contact device (106) for contacting a contact area (204) of at least one of the detergent containers (200) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the contact device (106) has the following features:
-two electrodes (206), the two electrodes (206) being adapted to contact the contact area (204); and
-detection means (208), said detection means (208) being designed for detecting the content code of the detergent container (200) by means of an electrical circuit wired via the two electrodes (206).
6. The contact apparatus (106) according to claim 5, the contact apparatus (106) having a contact arm (900), the contact arm (900) having two electrodes (206) and two additional conductive paths (902) for connecting the electrodes (206) to the detection device (208).
7. The contact device (106) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, the contact device (106) having a third electrode (306), wherein the detection means (208) are designed for detecting the content code of the detergent container (200) by means of a circuit wired via the third electrode (306), wherein the two electrodes (206) comprise a first electrode (308), a second electrode (310), the first electrode (308), the second electrode (310) and the third electrode (306) being arranged in a row or offset from each other.
8. The contact device (106) according to claim 7, the contact device (106) having two further electrodes (216) for contacting a further contact area (214) of a further detergent container (212), wherein the detection means (208) are designed for detecting the content coding of the further detergent container (212) by means of a further circuit wired via the two further electrodes (216).
9. The contact apparatus (106) according to claim 8, wherein the two electrodes (206) are arranged to contact a contact area (204) of the detergent container (200) inserted into a receiving area of the cleaning device (100) with the contact area (204) being located at a first position of the detergent container (200), and wherein the two further electrodes (216) are arranged to contact a further contact area (214) of the further detergent container (212) inserted into a further receiving area of the cleaning device (100) with the further contact area (214) being located at a further position of the further detergent container (212), wherein the first position is different from the further position.
10. The contact device (106) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, the contact device (106) having two further electrodes (216) for contacting a further contact area (214) of a further detergent container (212), wherein the detection means (208) are designed for detecting a content encoding of the further detergent container (212) by means of a further circuit wired via the two further electrodes (216).
11. The contact apparatus (106) according to claim 10, wherein the two electrodes (206) are arranged to contact a contact area (204) of the detergent container (200) inserted into a receiving area of the cleaning device (100) with the contact area (204) being located at a first position of the detergent container (200), and wherein the two further electrodes (216) are arranged to contact a further contact area (214) of the further detergent container (212) inserted into a further receiving area of the cleaning device (100) with the further contact area (214) being located at a further position of the further detergent container (212), wherein the first position is different from the further position.
12. A method of operating a cleaning device (100) having a receiving shaft and a contacting apparatus (106) according to any one of claims 5 to 11 using a detergent container (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
checking whether a circuit wired via the two electrodes (206) is closed to obtain a test result (112);
-providing an error load signal (114) using the test result (112) if the test result (112) does not indicate a closed circuit; and
if the test result (112) indicates a closed circuit, the test result (112) is used to provide a content signal (116) indicative of the detergent container content.
13. A device (104), the device (104) being designed for performing the steps of the method according to claim 12.
14. A computer program product having a program code for performing the method according to claim 12, if the computer program product is run on a device.
15. A cleaning device (100), the cleaning device (100) having the following features:
the contact device (106) according to any one of claims 5 to 11; and
the apparatus (104) of claim 13.
CN202180011687.7A 2020-01-30 2021-01-19 Detergent container for a cleaning device, contact apparatus, method and apparatus for operating a cleaning device, and cleaning device Active CN115003875B (en)

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DE102020102261.1A DE102020102261A1 (en) 2020-01-30 2020-01-30 Detergent container for a cleaning device, contacting device, method and device for operating a cleaning device and cleaning device
PCT/EP2021/051062 WO2021151727A1 (en) 2020-01-30 2021-01-19 Detergent container for a cleaning appliance, contacting device, method and device for operating a cleaning appliance, and cleaning appliance

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WO2023094208A1 (en) 2021-11-23 2023-06-01 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Container, assembly and method of identifying a content of a container
WO2023094202A1 (en) 2021-11-23 2023-06-01 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Container, assembly and method of identifying a content of a container
WO2023161020A1 (en) 2022-02-28 2023-08-31 Unilever Ip Holdings B.V. Cartridge, assembly and method of identifying a content of a container

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WO2021151727A1 (en) 2021-08-05
DE102020102261A1 (en) 2021-08-05

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